text: Synthetic ion channels are de novo chemical compounds that insert into lipid bilayers, form pores, and allow ions to flow from one side to the other.  They are man-made analogues of natural ion channels, and are thus also known as artificial ion channels.  Compared to biological channels, they usually allow fluxes of similar magnitude but are 
  # minuscule in size (less than 5k Dalton vs. > 100k Dalton),
  # diverse in molecular architecture, and
  # may rely on diverse supramolecular interactions to pre-form the active, conducting structures.
  Synthetic channels, like natural channels, are usually characterized by a combination of single-molecule (e.g., voltage-clamp of planar bilayers) and ensemble techniques (flux in vesicles).  The study of synthetic ion channels can potentially lead to new single-molecule sensing technologies as well as new therapeutics.